JP2003136750A - Inkjet recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a recorder which can secure workability for maintenance of a recording unit and prevent leakage of ink from an ink supply tube. SOLUTION: A pressurized air which is generated by an air pressurizing pump 1 is introduced into an ink cartridge 4 so that ink in the cartridge 4 is supplied to recording units 11A-11E mounted on a carriage through the ink supply tubes 8-2. A connector 9 having a shut-off valve for closing an ink supply passage in a condition that each ink supply tube 8-2 and the respective recording unit 11A-11E are separated from each other is positioned between each ink supply tube 8-2 and the respective recording unit 11A-11E. By separating the connector 9 therefrom, it is possible to secure the workability for maintenance of, for example, the recording units 11A-11E. The printing operation by the recording units 11A-11E except the recording unit under the maintenance work can be performed so that it is possible to suppress the lowering of the printing efficiency as much as possible.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ink for supplying ink to a recording unit equipped with a recording head mounted on a carriage and reciprocating, for example, via an ink supply path formed by a flexible tube. More specifically, the present invention relates to an inkjet recording apparatus that can facilitate maintenance of a recording unit.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, a serial printing type ink jet recording apparatus carries an ink jet type recording head mounted on a carriage and reciprocating in a main scanning direction, and a recording sheet in a sub scanning direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction. A paper feeding unit is provided, and printing is performed on the recording paper by ejecting ink droplets from the recording head based on the print data. Most of the recording devices of this type mainly used as home use are configured so that each ink cartridge for supplying ink to the recording head can be detachably mounted on a carriage on which the recording head is mounted. Has been done.

By the way, as described above, in the on-carriage type recording apparatus in which the ink cartridge is mounted on the carriage, the ink cartridge must be frequently replaced when a relatively large amount of printing is to be executed. It For this reason, not only is it necessary to manually replace the cartridge, but also the running cost is inevitably increased as a result. Therefore, for example, in a recording apparatus used for business use, a large-capacity ink cartridge is arranged on the main body side of the recording apparatus, and a recording head mounted on a carriage from the ink cartridge via a flexible ink supply tube. A configuration (off-carriage type) that supplies ink to each of them is adopted.

In the above-described off-carriage type recording apparatus, an ink supply tube for supplying black ink and at least three color inks to the recording head is connected from each ink cartridge to the carriage side. Therefore, for example, when performing maintenance on the side of the carriage on which the recording head is mounted, there arises a problem that the above-described ink supply tubes for each color interfere with maintenance work. Therefore, in this type of recording apparatus, it is desirable that each of the ink supply tubes described above can be easily attached and detached.

On the other hand, in recent years, for example, a commercial form in which image data picked up by a digital camera is entrusted to a customer, and the image data is printed using an ink jet type recording apparatus and provided to the customer has appeared. In such a case, in order to handle a large amount of printing, a plurality of the above-mentioned off-carriage type recording apparatuses are operated in parallel. Then, it is desirable to employ an ink supply system in which a large-capacity ink cartridge commonly used in each recording device is provided and ink can be supplied to each recording device from the ink cartridge, The applicant of the present invention has already proposed such a system.

[0006]

In the former off-carriage type recording apparatus, in which each ink supply tube is detachable, for example, when performing maintenance on the carriage side, the ink supply tube is not used. When removed, the ink may inadvertently leak from the ink supply tube, resulting in contamination of the device.

Further, even in the case of adopting the ink supply system adapted to allow a plurality of recording apparatuses to operate in parallel like the latter, if maintenance is required in any of the recording apparatuses, It is desirable that the corresponding ink supply tube be detachable. However, also in this case, similarly, when the ink supply tube is removed, there is a problem that the ink is inadvertently leaked from the ink supply tube and the device is contaminated.

In addition, in the latter system, when the ink supply tube corresponding to the recording apparatus is removed in order to maintain the recording apparatus, the other recording apparatuses must stop operating at the same time. As a result, the problem of reducing the number of printed sheets per time occurs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an ink jet type recording apparatus capable of preventing the occurrence of contamination by ink which occurs when the ink supply tube is removed in the off carriage type recording apparatus as described above. In addition, when an ink supply system capable of operating a plurality of recording devices in parallel is adopted, it is possible to minimize a decrease in printing efficiency due to execution of maintenance of the recording devices. It is an object of the present invention to provide an inkjet recording device.

[0010]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An ink cartridge according to the present invention, which has been made to achieve the above-mentioned object, comprises a recording unit having a recording head mounted on a carriage and reciprocally moved in the width direction of a recording sheet. An ink-jet recording apparatus, comprising: an ink cartridge arranged on a fixed side of the apparatus and adapted to supply ink to the recording unit through an ink supply path, wherein the ink cartridge is connected to the recording unit. A detachable connector composed of a first and a second connecting member is arranged in the ink supply path reaching the ink supply port, and at least one of the connecting members has the ink in the state where the first and the second connecting members are separated. The feature is that a sealing valve for closing the supply passage is provided.

In this case, preferably, ink is supplied from the ink cartridge to each of a plurality of recording units via each ink supply passage, and the connector is provided in each ink supply passage leading to each recording unit. It is arranged. The ink supply path is preferably composed of a flexible tube,
This flexible tube is preferably used in a part of the ink supply path leading to the connector. Further, preferably, among the first and second connection members that form the connector, the connection member provided with the sealing valve is arranged on the ink cartridge side in the ink supply path.

And in a preferred embodiment,
The sealing valve is closed by abutting of a movable member that moves in the axial direction, a spring member that biases the movable member toward the connection end, and a movable member that moves toward the connection end by the spring member. And a packing member. In a further preferred embodiment, the packing member is formed into an annular shape, and the peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion of the other connecting member is joined to the inner peripheral surface of the annularly formed packing member. The connector is configured to be connected.

According to the ink jet recording apparatus having the above-mentioned structure, the ink supply path formed of, for example, a flexible tube from the ink cartridge to the recording unit is attached / detached by the first and second connecting members. Since possible connectors are arranged, the connector can be easily separated and the workability thereof can be secured when the recording unit is maintained.

Further, even in the case of adopting an ink supply system in which ink is supplied from an ink cartridge to each of a plurality of recording units via respective ink supply paths, maintenance of any one of the recording units is performed. Similarly, the workability can be secured by disconnecting the connector in the same manner.

Of the first and second connecting members forming the connector, the connecting member having the sealing valve is arranged on the ink cartridge side in the ink supply path, so that the ink cartridge side Ink leakage can be effectively suppressed, and thus problems such as contaminating equipment can be solved.

On the other hand, in the configuration adopting the ink supply system in which the ink is supplied from the ink cartridge to each of the plurality of recording units via each ink supply passage, for example, the recording unit under maintenance is excluded. It becomes possible to execute the printing operation by the recording unit. Therefore, it is possible to provide an ink jet recording apparatus capable of minimizing a decrease in printing efficiency.

[0017]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention will be described below based on the embodiments shown in the drawings. First, FIG. 1 schematically shows the first embodiment. In the first embodiment, the ink from the ink cartridge reciprocates through a flexible tube that constitutes the ink supply path 1
It is configured to be supplied to one recording unit side.

This recording apparatus is equipped with an air pressurizing pump 1, and the pressurizing air supplied from the pressurizing pump 1 passes through an atmosphere opening valve 2 and a pressurizing air transmission path 3 to form an ink cartridge. 4 is configured to be supplied. The atmosphere release valve 2 is the air pressure pump 1
When the pressure of the pressurized air sent from the device reaches a predetermined value or more, the pressurized air is opened to the atmosphere and acts as a regulator for maintaining the pressurized air applied to the ink cartridge 4 within a predetermined range.

The outer case (shown by the same reference numeral 4) of the ink cartridge 4 is formed in an airtight state, and an ink pack 5 in which ink is sealed is housed inside. Then, the above-mentioned pressurized air is supplied to the space portion 6 between the outer case 4 and the ink pack 5, the ink is pushed out of the ink pack 5 by this pressurized air, and the ink is supplied to the recording unit 16 described later. Is configured to.

As shown in FIG. 2, the ink pack 5 has a bag-like shape in which three sides 5b of two rectangular flexible film-like members are previously sealed as shown in FIG. And the ink outlet plug 5a is attached to one end in the long side direction. Then, the ink is introduced from the opening on the remaining side 5c of the ink pack 5 and the side 5c is sealed to seal the ink inside.

The ink supplied from the ink cartridge 4 is supplied through the ink supply valve 7 to a fixed supply passage 8-1 which functions as an ink supply passage, and a flexible ink supply tube 8-2 connected to the fixed supply passage 8-1. Sent to the side. The fixed supply path 8-1 is composed of, for example, a metal pipe having a good gas barrier property, and the ink supply tube 8-2
Has a function of supplying ink to the recording unit 16 side including the recording head mounted on the carriage side. That is, the ink supply tube 8-2 has a length that can follow the reciprocating movement of the carriage. As a result, the length of the ink supply tube 8-2, which is slightly inferior in gas barrier property, is minimized.

A detachable connector 9 having a sealing valve, which will be described later, is connected to the end of the ink supply tube 8-2 on the recording unit 16 side. The connector 9 and the tube connected to this connector 9 are connected to each other. Ink is supplied to the recording unit 16 side through the valves 11 and 10 on the recording unit side.

The structure of the connector 9 is shown in FIG. 3, and comprises a first connecting member 9a and a second connecting member 9b. And FIG. 9A shows the first connecting member 9
a and the second connecting member 9b are connected, and the recording unit 1
6 shows a state in which ink can be supplied to the 6 side, and FIG. 9B shows the first connecting member 9a and the second connecting member 9b.
The state in which the connection is released is shown by a cross-sectional view.

In this embodiment, the first connecting member 9a is connected to the end of the ink supply tube 8-2. The first connecting member 9a has a tubular member 9a1 constituting its outer shell, and a movable member 9a3 movable in the axial direction.
A spring member 9a4 for urging the movable member 9a3 toward the connecting end is housed. A ring-shaped rubber packing member 9a5 is housed on the side of the connecting end of the tubular member 9a1. The packing member 9a5 has a tubular shape attached to the tubular member 9a1 at the connecting end. It is locked by the locking member 9a2.

On the other hand, the ink supply tube 10 extending to the recording unit 16 side is connected to the second connecting member 9b detachably connected to the first connecting member 9a. The second connecting member 9b is provided with a tubular body portion 9b1, the tubular body portion 9b1 is closed at the tip portion, and an ink introducing hole 9b2 is formed near the tip portion so as to be orthogonal to the axial direction. Has been done.

In the above-mentioned structure, in the state shown in FIG. 3 (b) where the second connecting member 9b is not connected to the first connecting member 9a constituting the connector 9, the movable member 9
The a3 is moved to the packing member 9a5 side by the urging force of the spring member 9a4 and abuts against the end surface of the annular packing member 9a5 to close it. Therefore, the ink sent to the first connecting member 9a via the ink supply tube 8-2 is sealed by the sealing valve including the movable member 9a3 and the packing member 9a5, and the ink leaks from the first connecting member 9a. Can be prevented.

On the other hand, in the state shown in FIG. 3A in which the second connecting member 9b is connected to the first connecting member 9a, the tubular body portion 9b1 of the second connecting member 9b has the first connecting member 9a. An annular packing member 9 arranged at the end of the
The tip end portion is inserted into the tubular member 9a1 while being joined to the inner peripheral surface of a5. At this time, the tip of the cylindrical body portion 9b1 of the second connecting member 9b is moved to the movable member 9a3.
Abutting against and pushing it in. Therefore, the movable member 9a3 is axially retracted against the biasing force of the spring member 9a4. As a result, the ink introduced into the first connecting member 9a passes through the ink introducing hole 9b2 in the second connecting member 9b as shown by the arrow, and the cylindrical portion 9b.
It is introduced into the chamber 1 and supplied to the valve 11 side through the tube 10.

The recording unit 16 shown in FIG. 1 is mounted on a carriage that reciprocates in the width direction of the recording paper, and the ink supplied through the valve 11 is temporarily stored in the sub tank 12. Done. Then, the ink via the sub-tank 12 enters the damper 14 via the connecting pipe 13 and is supplied to the recording head 15 via the damper 14. As is well known, the recording head 15 operates to eject ink droplets based on bitmap data based on print data, thereby printing an image on recording paper.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an example of the sub-tank 12 mounted on the recording unit 16. The sub-tank 12 is formed as a bag 12a having airtightness by a film-shaped member having flexibility whose volume can be changed. Then, the valve 1 described above is provided at one end of the bag body 12a.
Intake port 12b for taking in the ink supplied through
Is attached, and the ink is temporarily stored by flexibly following the amount of ink supplied through the intake port 12b. At the other end of the bag body 12a, a delivery port 12c for delivering ink to the connection pipe 13 is attached.

On one surface of the sub tank 12 shown in FIG.
Although not shown in the figure, a sensing plate is attached and attached, and the movement of this sensing plate is detected to detect the sub-tank 12
It is configured to be able to detect the amount of ink inside. When it is detected that the ink in the sub-tank 12 has become less than or equal to a predetermined amount based on the ink consumption by the recording head 15, the valve 11
Is opened to replenish ink in the sub-tank 12, and when the ink in the sub-tank 12 is replenished up to a predetermined amount, the valve 11 is closed to replenish ink in the sub-tank. It is controlled to be stopped.

In the structure shown in FIG. 1, for the sake of convenience of description, only the ink supply path for supplying ink from one ink cartridge is shown, but the ink from the ink cartridge 4 to the damper 14 in the recording unit 16 is shown. A plurality of supply paths are provided for each color of ink ejected from the recording head 15.
Then, the pressurized air supplied from the air pressure pump 1 is supplied to each ink cartridge that stores the ink of each color.

In the ink jet recording apparatus according to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the detachable connector 9 is arranged in the middle of the ink supply path from the ink cartridge 4 to the recording unit 16. ,
For maintenance of the recording unit, the connector can be easily disconnected, and workability such as maintenance can be ensured. When the connector 9 is disconnected, the leakage of ink from the ink cartridge side can be sealed by the sealing valve built in the first connecting member 9a constituting one side of the connector 9, It is possible to solve the problem of contaminating the device or the like due to ink leakage.

Further, since the valve 11 arranged on the recording unit 16 side is configured so as to be sealed when the connector 9 is disconnected, it is possible to prevent ink from leaking from the sub tank 12. Similarly, it is possible to solve the problem that the device is contaminated with the ink.

Next, FIG. 5 schematically shows a second embodiment of an ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention. In the second embodiment, the ink from the ink cartridge passes through a fixed supply passage 8-1 which constitutes an ink supply passage and a flexible ink supply tube 8-2 which is connected to the fixed supply passage 8-1. It is configured to be supplied to the plurality of recording units. Note that in FIG. 5, parts corresponding to the respective parts in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 already described are denoted by the same reference numerals.

The fixed supply passage 8-1 in this embodiment is made of, for example, a metal pipe having a good gas barrier property as in the first embodiment. Each flexible ink supply tube 8-2 is branched and connected, and ink is supplied to each of the recording units indicated by reference numerals 16A to 16E via these ink supply tubes 8-2. Is configured.

Each ink supply tube 8-2 has a length capable of following the reciprocal movement path of the carriage and is configured to supply ink to the recording units 16A to 16E side. There is. As a result, similarly to the first embodiment, the length of the ink supply tube 8-2, which is slightly inferior in gas barrier property, is minimized.

Also in the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, only the ink supply path for supplying ink from one ink cartridge is shown for convenience of explanation, but the damper 14 in each of the recording units 16A to 16E from the ink cartridge 4 is shown. The ink supply paths up to are provided with a plurality of paths corresponding to the inks of the respective colors ejected from the recording head 15. In addition, pressurized air supplied from the air pressure pump 1 is supplied to each ink cartridge that stores ink of each color.

In each of the sub-tanks 12 provided in each of the recording units 16A to 16E, the sensing plate is attached and attached as described above, and the movement of the sensing plate is detected to detect the inside of each sub-tank 12. It is configured such that each ink amount can be individually detected. Then, when it is detected that the ink in any of the sub tanks 12 has become equal to or less than a predetermined amount based on the ink consumption by the recording head 15, the valve 11 corresponding to the sub tank is opened. Ink is replenished in the sub tank 12 and the sub tank 12
When the amount of the ink inside has reached a predetermined amount, the valve 11 is closed and the supply of the ink to the sub tank is controlled to be stopped. As a result, the respective sub-tanks 12 are controlled so that ink in a predetermined range is always stored.

Like the ink jet recording apparatus according to the second embodiment, a plurality of recording units 16A to 16A.
When 16E is provided and these are sequentially arranged from the upper stage to the lower stage, different head differences occur in the respective recording units 16A to 16E.
In this case, since the recording units 16A to 16E are respectively provided with the valves 11, the sub-tanks 12 in the recording units arranged in the upper stage are
Sub tank 12 in the recording unit arranged in the lower stage
It is possible to effectively prevent the ink from moving.

According to the ink jet recording apparatus according to the second embodiment, each recording unit 16
Removable connectors 9 are respectively arranged at the end portions of the ink supply tubes 8-2 extending from A to 16E, so that the connector 9 can be easily disconnected when performing maintenance of any recording unit. Therefore, workability such as maintenance can be secured.

Further, according to the ink jet recording apparatus according to the second embodiment shown in FIG. 5, even if one recording unit is separated by the connector 9 for maintenance or the like, one of the first and second connectors 9 is formed. The sealing valve built in the connection member 9a can prevent ink from leaking. Therefore, the printing operation can be executed by the printing units other than the printing unit under maintenance, and the reduction in printing efficiency can be minimized.

Further, as in the case of the first embodiment described above, the valve 11 arranged on the recording unit 16 side is configured so as to be sealed when the connector 9 is disconnected, so that the sub tank 12 is formed. It is possible to prevent the ink from leaking from the ink, and it is also possible to solve the problem that the device is contaminated by the ink.

In each of the above-mentioned embodiments,
It is configured to apply pressurized air to the ink cartridge to send out the ink from the cartridge. For example, the ink cartridge is arranged above the recording unit in the direction of gravity, and the ink head is displaced from the ink cartridge due to the head difference. Even if it is adopted in a configuration that supplies ink to the recording unit, the same operational effect can be obtained.

[0044]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention, a detachable connector is arranged in the ink supply path from the ink cartridge to the recording unit, and at least one of them is arranged. Since the sealing valve that closes the ink supply path is provided in the state where the both are separated, the workability of maintenance of, for example, the recording unit can be secured by separating the connector. Then, the action of the sealing valve can prevent the ink from leaking due to the separation of the connector, and prevent the contamination of the device.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a first embodiment of an ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an external configuration of an ink pack housed in an ink cartridge.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a connector arranged in an ink supply path from an ink cartridge to a recording unit.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an example of a sub tank arranged in the recording unit.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a second embodiment of an ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Air Pressurizing Pump 2 Atmosphere Release Valve 4 Ink Cartridge 5 Ink Pack 6 Space 7 Ink Supply Valve 8-1 Fixed Supply Path (Ink Supply Path) 8-2 Ink Supply Tube (Ink Supply Path) 9 Connector 9a First Connection Member 9a1 Tubular member 9a2 Locking member 9a3 Movable member 9a4 Spring member 9a5 Packing member 9b Second connecting member 9b1 Cylindrical body portion 9b2 Ink introducing hole 10 Ink supply tube 11, 11A to 11E Recording unit 12 Sub tank 14 Damper 15 Recording head

Continued front page    F-term (reference) 2C056 EA16 EA20 EB21 EB50 EC18                       EC64 FA11 KA01 KA08 KB04                       KB08 KB14 KB19 KB37 KC02                       KC14

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A recording unit having a recording head mounted on a carriage and reciprocating in a width direction of a recording sheet, and an ink arranged on a fixed side of the apparatus via an ink supply path to the recording unit. An ink jet recording apparatus comprising an ink cartridge adapted to supply the ink, wherein an ink supply path from the ink cartridge to the recording unit is provided with a detachable connector including first and second connecting members. Is arranged and at least one of the connecting members is
In a state where the first and second connection members are separated,
An ink jet recording apparatus comprising a sealing valve that closes an ink supply path. 2. The ink cartridge is configured to supply ink to each of a plurality of recording units via each ink supply passage, and the connector is arranged in each ink supply passage to each recording unit. The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: 3. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ink supply path is formed of a flexible tube. 4. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the flexible tube is used in a part of an ink supply path leading to the connector. 5. The connection member provided with the sealing valve, of the first and second connection members forming the connector, is arranged on the ink cartridge side in the ink supply path. 4. The inkjet recording device according to any one of 4 above. 6. The sealing valve includes a movable member that moves in the axial direction, a spring member that urges the movable member toward the connecting end, and a movable member that moves toward the connecting end by the spring member. The ink jet recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, which is configured by a packing member that is closed by abutting. 7. The connector is connected by forming the packing member in an annular shape, and joining the peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion of the other connecting member to the inner peripheral surface of the packing member formed in an annular shape. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 6, which is brought into a state.